December 2016.Indd
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December 2016 MATAWA MESSENGER "Living With Us" ... page 16 From Residenti al School Tragedy to Canada's New Doorway to Learning On September 9, 2016, Gord Downie, lead singer and lyricist of the iconic Canadian rock band the Tragically Hip, announced that a multimedia project that included an album, graphic novel (by Jeff Lemire) and animated film would be released depict- ing the short life of 12-year-old Charlie “Chanie” Wenjack, who died in 1966 while trying to return home to Ogoki Post after fleeing Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School. Just three months before, on May 24, 2016, Downie announced he had terminal brain cancer. The Secret Path was broadcast by CBC on October 23, 2016. Shortly after, the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund was established. It was not the first time Chanie Wenjack had been in the news or had music writ- ten about him. On February 6, 1967, Maclean's magazine published writer Ian Adam's story, “The Lonely Death of Charlie Wenjack." In his 1978 album, the late IN THIS ISSUE: Willie Dunn, Canadian singer-songwriter produced a song called "Charlie Wenjack" MLC and Gladue Reports on his album, Akwesasne Notes. UAV Demonstration in Constance Lake Downie has provided the needed tools to educate on indian residential schools New Gold Mine Tour which will last for years to come. For Chanie's sister, Pearl Achneepineskum, it fulfilled the promise she made the day her little brother's body arrived home from Chiefs Council/RFA Happenings residential school in a coffin. For everyone involved in the Secret Path, and for Chanie Wenjack, First Nations owe a great deal of gratitude. Unity Walk/Symposium Addressing Racism Welcome New Staff and more.... 12-year old Charlie "Chanie" Wenjack Marten Falls First Nati on Chief Bruce Achneepineskum thanking and gi� ing Gord Downie Matawa Learning Centre Students Delve into Gladue Reports Equipped with this new knowledge, students col- laborati vely prepared a set of interview questi ons, which were presented to Jennifer MacKenzie, a Gladue Worker with NAN Legal Services. The interview was recorded and aired on Wawatay Ra- dio on November 10, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. EST. By parti ci- pati ng in this project, students at the Matawa Learning Centre were able to address expectati ons within the By: Trevor Workman, Teacher at the Matawa Learn- Ontario curriculum, across several subject areas, in a ing Centre fun and engaging way. Throughout the fi rst term of the 2016/2017 school Matawa Learning Centre would like to thank Jennifer year, students at the Matawa Learning Centre had the MacKenzie (NAN Legal), George Edwads (NAN Legal), unique opportunity to learn about Canada’s legal sys- Martha Loon (NAN Legal), Neil McCartney (Atwood tem through a project involving Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Labine LLP), Meaghan Daniel (Falconers LLP), Elder Isa- Services, Wawatay Radio, Atwood Labine LLP, Falconers belle Mercier, Hannah Fisher (Ontario Justi ce Educati on LLP, and the Ontario Justi ce Educati on Network. To initi - Network) and Bryn Bamber (Ontario Justi ce Eduacti on ate the project, students were asked to select a specifi c Network) for all their help with the project. topic within Canada’s legal system that had potenti al implicati ons for Aboriginals that were accused of com- mitti ng a crime. Aft er some thought provoking discussion and research, students unanimously decided they would focus their att enti on on Gladue Reports. Gladue Reports are a type of pre-sentencing and bail hearing report that a Canadian court can request when considering sentenc- TUNE IN EVERY 2ND TUESDAY ing an off ender of Aboriginal background under Secti on FROM 4:00 - 4:30 EST 718.2(e) of the Criminal Code. Gladue was the fi rst case (3:00 - 3:30 CST) to challenge secti on 718.2(e) of the Criminal Code. The process derives its name from "R. v. Gladue," a 1999 www.wawataynews.ca/radio Supreme Court of Canada decision. 89.9 FM in Sioux Lookout 106.7 FM in Timmins Representati ves from NAN Legal Services and Atwood BellTV Channel 962 Labine Law Offi ce presented students with a history of Gladue Reports, its use in Canada’s criminal justi ce UPCOMING SHOWS system, potenti al benefi ts in terms of sentencing, and case studies in which Gladue Reports could have been January 17 and 31 applied. February 14 and 28 March 14 and 28 2 tudent utrition rogram ood is edicine Healthy food helps our children and youth learn and succeed! Physically - Students are less distracted by hunger, have more energy, show improved behaviour and reduce their risk of developing chronic illness Emotionally - Students Mentally - Students show more interest in are less anxious, subjects being taught, more focused, ready have more self to learn, able to conÞdence, better concentrate, and social skills and there have better memory are less incidents and recall ability of bullying Spiritually - Students show improved academic performance and are one step closer to their dreams 2 3 When Students Go To School Hungry Their… …energy levels, memory, problem-solving skills, creativity, concentration and behaviour…. …Are All Negatively Impacted! Help Our Children and Youth Succeed! Volunteer at your local school’s.. tudent utrition rogram! 4 Matawa Health Co-operati ve Initi ati ve Update The Matawa Health Co-operati ve Initi ati ve is a two-year, from the ground up, planning process to create a plan for an alter nate health and social services delivery system for Matawa communiti es. From the planning will rise a Matawa owned and directed health co-operati ve. The Matawa Health Co-operati ve will include primary care (elder, nursing, physician, mental health and public health to start), medicati on (western and traditi onal), capital investment (faciliti es, housing and equipment), Non-Insured Health Benefi ts, BlueCross-like dental and health insurance, and service agreements that will fund community land-based programming. A framework has been developed for primary care delivery to communiti es that can receive funding from provincial and federal health authoriti es. That framework addresses gaps in health care for remote Matawa communiti es, road-accessed Matawa communiti es and Matawa community members located in Thunder Bay. We have developed support and working relati onships (partnerships) with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Health Canada, Ministry of Indigenous Relati ons and Reconciliati on, Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, North West Linked Health Integrated Networks (NWLHIN), Thunder Bay Regional Health Services Cen- tre, Saint Joseph Care Group, Lakehead Psychiatric Insti tute, Anishnawbe Mushkiki, and the Registered Nurses Associati on of Ontario. We are sti ll visiti ng communiti es to introduce, update and consult on parts of the developing health co-operati ve. Currently, we are focussed on the co-operati ve governance structure, training physicians for Matawa communiti es and creati ng a mental wellness service team model that will empower the support workers in each community, engage regional professionals, and fund each community’s land-based programs. Our fi rst medical resident will go into training this December or January in the fi rst of its kind in the world training program; our mental wellness team model is ground-breaking, and our First Nati ons health co-operati ve is the fi rst of its kind in Canada. While working on these three areas, all other aspects of Matawa health care needs are also being advance in their planning. If we have not been to your community, please contact us so we can schedule a visit to listen and answer questi ons. For infor- mati on contact your local Health Director or Richard Herbert at 807-346-3675. Employment Integrati on Services/Career Focus & Northern Policy Insti tute Social Media Campaign The Employment Integrati on Services (EISO) with Career Focus (CFP) is working with Northern Policy Insti tute’s Charmaine McCraw, Labour Force Researcher on a Social Media Campaign. They travelled to Webequie in the middle of November to showcase a couple of former RoFATA graduates who are working in the skilled trades they have been certi fi ed in. Stay tuned for upcoming videos and dialogue. The Employment Integrati on Services (EISO) and Career Focus Program provides support services to RoFATA gradu- ates as well as all Matawa band members who are looking for full-ti me employment and/or apprenti ceship opportu- niti es. The EISO and CFP work together to increase client’s skills development and network with employers, groups and associati ons to create employment and apprenti ceship opportuniti es. 4 25 MMTC Tours New Gold Mine and Surrounding First Nations The next morning (September 28, 2016) New Gold Inc. hosted a mining project tour of their Rainy River Project guided by Stacy Jack. The project is currently at its development stage with an open pit under construction. Upon purchase of the property, and further exploration work, some species at risk mitigation had to take place to accommodate whip-poor-wills and barn swallows in the area. New Gold Inc. set aside some land for the species at risk to use, have put barriers around known nesting sites, and have put up nests specifically suited to use by barn swallows. New Gold Inc. currently has 36 employees working on the pit, with a total of 877 workers employed, including outside contracts. Following the mine tour, the group was given a tour of the Atkinson Road Camp, and a presentation by Chief Jim Lenard of Rainy River First Nation and Dean Bethune of Onikaajigan LP. Onikaajigan LP was developed by Rainy River First Nation and Naicatchewenin First Nation as a partnership with Saulteaux Con- On September 27, 2016, the Matawa Mineral Technical Committee struction Engineering.